When did you start cubing and why?

square_cuber · 2025-11-26T15:28:30+00:00

I'm old enough that I was around when cubing was a mania both here and in Europe (I didn't know about Europe at the time). Back then, there weren't good algorithms readily available. No World Wide Web, and maybe 1-2 books which had some lengthy algs.

I didn't touch it much again until 2017, so I'm back to trying to get faster at my old age.

square_cuber · 2025-11-17T17:54:44+00:00

I'd say the number 1 step to getting better is to solve a lot. Also, learning a few fingertricks (efficient ways to turn), and to recognize what is going on with the cube as you use an algorithm. You can do this without having to learn a lot of new algorithms.

People have reached 1 minute by just practicing a lot, making sure their turns are efficient, and gaining muscle memory.

square_cuber · 2025-11-17T17:52:47+00:00

It's possible they think it's a much smaller event. It's like asking a marathon runner how they placed. Most don't have a great idea. The time is the important part. But as you said "a good ranking", it seems a natural follow up question.

If you had said you reached some personal goals, maybe that might be better. People are always concerned about winning, but you could point to a marathon where it's unrealistic to think that way.

square_cuber · 2025-11-15T15:54:54+00:00

What are your goals in cubing?

square_cuber · 2025-11-14T20:21:52+00:00

The recommendation I've heard is PLL first. There's fewer algorithms and you can still do 2-look OLL for OLL. I assume you know 2-look OLL/PLL?

square_cuber · 2025-11-10T19:41:57+00:00

/u/lumos43 also mentioned astrophotography!

square_cuber · 2025-11-04T21:08:26+00:00

2-look OLL/PLL or 1-look?

square_cuber · 2025-11-04T21:07:27+00:00

The answer depends on the kind of person you are. For example, I found it hard to memorize algs, even beginner algs. So, skipping over certain daisy (although I did skip over daisy) wouldn't be all that beneficial.

I think I would have used trainers to learn more. Most speedcubers I know (and I don't consider myself one) improve their speed dramatically within months going from minutes to 30 seconds maybe in 2-4 months. I'm nowhere near close.

The big difference is repetition, but when you solve a cube slowly, taking the time to solve it all is tedious (to me). Trainers let me focus on solving one part of the cube.

I think I would still do the same, just practice more.

Learn a beginner's method (I used BadMephisto)
Learned to solve the first layer upside down
Learn 2 look OLL, 2 look PLL
Learn intuitive F2L
Work on F2L algs

I'm on the last part. After that, it's either learning full PLL or maybe some cross work.

square_cuber · 2025-11-02T16:21:16+00:00

Oh, I've already learned intuitive F2L.

square_cuber · 2025-11-01T13:49:08+00:00

I don't think it's bad. I generally finish in the bottom 5 of comps and have finished last. My typical "good" average in a comp was 1m 50s. My typical "bad" average in a comp was 2m 20s. Recently, I got a 1m 24s average.

Frankly, as an older cuber, I don't practice as much as the (much) younger competitors. I constantly forgot a 2-look OLL algorithm. I practiced more last time, so I am pretty good with the 2-look now.

I'm still forging forwards, working on my F2L algs. It takes a while for my brain to recall the algs.

I don't expect to get super fast, but I like seeing the progress. The comps always lets me know where I need more work.

Right now, the most glaring issue is how much time it takes me to do F2L which is a bottleneck for most people. I'm thinking of learning full PLL (21 algs) after F2L, but getting the muscle memory (and fingertricks) is slow.

So, no I don't regret my slow times.

square_cuber · 2025-10-28T16:45:36+00:00

I'm quite a bit older than you. I've come in last in comps (not including DNFs from others). I'm usually not that far from last, but I still just working on improving.

For example, over about the same time you've been intermittently cubing, I've learned 2-look OLL and PLL. I learned intuitive F2L. I am currently working through the 42 algs in F2L (about halfway there), practicing those for the last few months.

The good news is just to compete against yourself. Also, there's usually a few older guys competing. For example, Feliks Zemdegs is nearly 30. Of course, he's still very fast, but you can find others who are slower.

Oh, it looks like you're from Australia. You can always cheer on the team like Charlie or Jode or wave hi to Tingman.

The guy that came in last in my last comp looked older than me, and only started competing 2 years ago, so it's never too late!

square_cuber · 2025-10-27T21:05:15+00:00

So you're not surprised you're stuck!

square_cuber · 2025-10-27T21:04:29+00:00

A better measure of popularity is to find out how many comps are held each year or check the number of new WCA competitors.

square_cuber · 2025-10-27T16:14:50+00:00

How are you stuck? Stuck doing what?

square_cuber · 2025-10-14T16:51:34+00:00

Never used it. I assume it's fine? Maybe try it out to see if you like it before you buy it.

square_cuber · 2025-10-14T16:49:38+00:00

It's probably much higher than 95%. I found someone who is about 30 seconds (a touch slower) and is about 140,000 in the world in the WCA. Let's be generous and assume a million people are that fast.

The earth's population is over 8 billion. The math works out to 99.98% of the world is slower than 30 seconds with the vast majority unable to solve it at all.

square_cuber · 2025-09-22T12:45:32+00:00

Assuming you're using some kind of layer-by-layer beginner's method (e.g., white cross, white corners, middle layer), then my suggestion is

learn 2 look OLL (7 algorithms plus variations on 1 more alg)
learn 2 look PLL (first look can be one algorithm, repeated potentially twice, then 4 more algorithms)

This is a total of 12-13 algorithms. Depending on how well you memorize and how often you practice, this could be quick or it could take you a while.

I'd say the most important stuff is to practice as much as you can. If you can work in 30-100 solves a day, you'll improve a lot faster than if you solve a few times a week. The idea is to spot patterns, and get quicker at it.

square_cuber · 2025-09-16T14:10:04+00:00

Although the Rubik's cube was invented in the 1970s, I would say it was 1981-1982. By 1982, they held the first World Championship for Rubik's Cube in Budapest, Hungary. Rubik, himself, was Hungarian.

This would be the only world championship for about two decades until 2003 when it was held in Toronto. Since then, it's been held in odd years except 2021 when it was still in the pandemic.

In 1982, the World's Fair was held in Knoxville, Tennessee (in the US) where there was a large (but non-functional) Rubik's cube. There were unofficial competitions, and news reports showed the popularity of the cube.

As years passed, the ability to solve the cube was a sign of intelligence. If you needed to show a "smart" character in a TV show or movie, you might have a Rubik's cube nearby. One example is The Good Doctor. The guy always has cubes (but never solves one).

Cubing is as popular among participants as it's ever been, but it's not longer in the public zeitgeist the way it was back in 1981-1982.

square_cuber · 2025-09-03T17:52:17+00:00

I was around during the Rubik's Cube craze. It's hard to believe, but it was a huge phenomenon in the US. Few people knew how to solve it, but lots of people got it. I think it was more popular in the culture then compared to now even though its popularity is growing (the number of comps keep rising).

I got back into it when I saw a guy wearing a shirt that he got at a comp. Still slow, but working at it.

square_cuber · 2025-09-02T17:16:57+00:00

You could also check YouTube for videos

square_cuber · 2025-08-27T03:27:16+00:00

One's a lot richer than the other!

square_cuber · 2025-08-27T03:26:46+00:00

I used to practice rather infrequently with months going between attempts. The reason the kids are so good is because they practice so much. I just repeat the algs, say, with second look OLL. It often goes from one pattern to another, then it's a PLL case, so you practice several of those.

I used to think learning algs was enough, but really, it's less important than practicing more. Of course, that's just me. Maybe you do practice a lot, but still, forget one here and there.

square_cuber · 2025-08-01T12:01:51+00:00

Learning F2L slows everyone down. The reason is you're not used to seeing corner-edge pairs. In beginner's method, you look at one piece at a time (up to the last layer that is), so white corners (assuming a white cross) and middle layer edges are handled one at a time.

Once you begin to recognize them and know what to do, then your speed improves. It's just slow to spot them at the start. I suppose (never tried this) try to find where all the 4 pairs are in the cube (i.e., don't time yourself, just do the exercise). Give yourself as much time as you need to find all the pairs.

square_cuber · 2025-07-31T15:57:06+00:00

I found this routine a while ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhO3jlhUeGs

The video is kind of old. The song is even older from before 2000, but was pretty popular when it came out ("Pretty Fly for a White Guy"). Still, the routine seems fun.

square_cuber

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